The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-12-29
The Signal OF Danger.

We received this morning . business
letter from the largest and wealthiest
manufacturing establishment in the
United States which closes as follows:
I'VE are so unsettled by the pronounced
free trade utterances OF the President,
and which may be now accepted as the
policy of the dominant political party. that
we hesitate about making any further in
vestments looking beyond the immediate
present: as with ibis policy carried out,
there can be nothing ahead but ruin for
the mining and manufacturing interests OF
this country until the American and net
the foreign policy is again il the ascend
ency.7
And yet this Inference comes from a
firm that annually Imports thousands Of
tons of iron ore and other r0t0 materials.
Comment is unnecessary. = Wytheuitle I'm
fef1orise.
Corresponding with this signal we no.
tice that American railroad securities have
fallen in price in the European markets
and English securities of the same kind
have advanced depression in the one and
activity in the other. Capitalists under
stand that if the Presidents policy should
be carried out, it would ruin the whole
consequently diminish the freightage and
profits of railroads. Ia other words it
would create financial and business chaos.
IN an article on the Presidents Mes
sage. the Enterprise, 4 Democratic paper.
gives utterance to the following stirring
and patriotic sentences, placing country
and principle higher than party:
It is also al uuVarnlshed and straight
forward svoWai OF genuine Democratic
principles from the truthful lips of an
elevated and un apologize exponent, as
vel as trusted leader. no speaks, as Ii
by authority, for the great majority of his
followers aud supporters; and ii this re-
gard, at least, il is in striking contrast
with the stale plaiil udes aud uncertain
utterances OF the platfor.l which was
adopted when he was nom mated,
AS such we welcome it and the issue
that it raises, knowing full well that if
they shall be finally decided III accordance
with the Presidents recommendations
that only stark ruin and grim disaster mast
oUertdEe and oUe17riletnt each and eUefy
effort that has been. or, is HOW being made
to develop the resources or promote the
material prosperity Of the people of Virgin
la. North Carolina, Tennessee. Alabama,
Georgia and Kentucky.
To each and all OF these great States, as
well as to others. the adoption of Mr..
Cleveland's suggestions would De but the
hey note OF destruction death knell Of
material progressive sentence + con
tinued and hopeless poverty
Enforce the internal revenue laws Re
tam the tax on brandy distilled from
perishabe fruits. as well as or Whiskey
and malt liquors Perpetuate the burdens
upon tobacco
a woful, hateful picture ia ali soberness
and truth to all those who have SO rest
lessly borne these evils for years, trusting
hopefully to a Democratic administration
for relief.
But darker, and more repuisive ii pos
sible, because more extensive and far
reaching in it's dire consequences, is the
shadow that forms the back ground of
free raaU material. Adopted as policy, it
may light up The fires in new furnaces
hereafter to be built on the sea shores; it
may increase the profits Of the Importers
at the great harbors: It may enlarge the
plants of great manufacturing concerns
by the sounding sea: but it seals with
profound and hopeless gloom. the fate of
very interior enterprise: it depTeciates, if
it does not entirely destroy, the value Of
every acre of mineral lands that lie inland:
it scatters the feacy folds OF the frugal
it substitutes a remote and
market for the remunerative
and yitalizing advantage Of one at home;
it confiscates the capital Of every stock |
holder, and lowers the hard earned wages
Of every laborer, working in the mines and |
and manufacturing plants located beyond |
The limits of the ocean tides. But, we |
repeat we welcome the issue. If the blow |
must come the sooner it falls the better. |
e the fight must be waged. 1ow is the &C |
,epted time. For our own part we greet |
The gauntlet and cheerfully enlist in the |
ranks of the opposition to any such hane
full legislation. We are against any party
that attempts to adopt it and we are the
relentless opponents any man who fayors it.